A Port Angeles church donated $500 in late November to Chapter 9 of the Disabled American Veterans in Port Angeles, with hopes that other churches might follow suit.

The Rev. Omer Vigoren of Bethany Pentecostal Church in Port Angeles said the money was collected around Veterans Day to show the church’s support for disabled veterans in the community.

“We’ve got numerous veterans in the church and we need to support them,” he said. “They deserve our support.”

Jeff Bele, commander of Chapter 9 of the Disabled American Veterans in Port Angeles, said the money will go into a fund to support disabled veterans. All the money in the fund goes directly to disabled veterans, with none used for administrative costs, he said.

Bele, a disabled Army veteran who was injured after an explosion in Iraq, said the money will go toward helping disabled veterans pay for a variety of things they might need if they are in a hard spot financially.

“If we can get them and other churches to do what they did, we can help a lot of people,” he said.

Bele thanked Sequim resident and Korean War veteran Bill Ellis for helping coordinate the donation. Ellis, who organized a Fourth of July fundraiser for disabled veterans, said he’s just doing his part to make sure veterans are taken care of once they return back to the United States. He hopes other churches in the area also will donate to help disabled veterans.

“Throughout history, we needed them,” Ellis said. “Now they need us.”

For more about DAV, call 360-808-4680.